Our Mission
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Technology
The child destined to invent the next version of the internet could be without a computer right now. We need to change that.
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Freedom
Users of all ages should be free to use their software and hardware in any manner they deem necessary
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Education
We not only give these children computers, we teach them how to use them to build their futures.
Why the HeliOS Project ?
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Bridging the Digital Divide
According to our estimates and those of the Austin Independent School District, there are over 5000 Austin students who cannot afford a computer or Internet access. The HeliOS Project wants to reduce that number by as much as we can. Since 2005 we have provided 1102 disadvantaged Austin-area kids and their families a computer. These kids cannot grow and compete with their peers unless they have a computer and The HeliOS Project focuses on giving these kids the tools they need.
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Community Involvement
We have also built computer and technology learning centers in and around East Austin. One of our biggest is the Bruno Knaapen Technology Learning Center based in the Cristo Rey Catholic Church on East Second Street. This lab serves the local community and we are privileged to offer weekly classes at that center to teach people how to use a computer and how best to use the Internet for job searches and communicating with their families.
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Social and Environmental Responsibility
Many of the best computers we've refurbished have come from a curbside trash pickup. The sins were twofold in that these were perfectly usable machines and we fixed them and gave them to kids that were in need. These machines would have ended up in a landfill somewhere, polluting the ground water with lead, zinc and other toxins. The HeliOS Project not only practices responsible E-waste, by refurbishing donated machines to disadvantaged kids, we assure they stay out of the scrap heap for another 3-5 years
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Your Data is Safe
Many of our donors give us computers that still have their personal data on them. The HeliOS Project values your data just as much as you do and we work to Department of Defense standards to wipe your hard drives to insure no one can recover it. (well maybe to the exclusion of the NSA). We use a software program called DBAN (BWG) to scrub the information from your drives. Of course, should you deem it necessary, we will gladly accept your computer after you remove the hard drive and we will replace it with one of our own.
